Refrigerating apparatus.



2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. F. KRIEGER.

REFRIGEBATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION F lLED OCT. 29. m1.

llVl/ENTOR ATTORNEY W. F. KRIEGER.

BEFRlGERATlNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 0cT.29. 1917.

Patented Apia 8,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INI/E/VTOA A TTOR/VE Y "iINHEDSTnTEs n t @FETQE.

WALTER. r. KIRIEGER, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

4 Patenteddpr.8,1919.

Application filed October 29, 1917. Serial No. 198,916. 7

.type in which a fluid such as ammonia or the like, is employed as a refrigerating agent. a

. An object of the invention is to provide a refrigerating system regulating device,

view of the improved, refrigerant regulatwhich is simple in construction and efficient in operation. Another-object is to provide a sensitive feed valve controlling device which is positive and automatic in operation. 4

A more specific object of the invention is to provide means for automatically regulating the admission of refrigerant to a cooling device, in accordance with variations in a characteristic of the refrigerating medium in the device. It is common practice in the art of refrigerating, to control the admission of refrigerating fluid to the cooling device, either manually by means of hand actuated valves, or automatically by means of valve devices actuated in accordance with variations in temperature or pressure of'the refrigerating medium in the cooling device. The present invention contemplates an automatic control which may, be eflected independently of the temperature and of the pressure of the refrigerant, but which is primarily dependent upon the amount of moisture in or the humidity of the cooling medium. While the term humidity is ordinarily employed to define a condition of the atmosphere,.itiis employed in the present-specification and in the claims, as meaning'the amount of l1qu1d vapor or i moisture in the gasified refrigerant. This characteristic of the gas may .vary under diflerent cond1t1ons of temperature and pressure, from a condition of no moisture which compares favorably with the condition of super-heated steam, to a condltlon of complete saturation. As ammonia is the refrigerant ordinarily employed, this fluid I will be referred to in the present specification by way of illustration, but it is not in-. tended to limit the scope of the invention by.

such specific reference. 7

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic part-sectional plan view of one unit of a multiple unit r'efrigerating system.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged part-sectional side elevation of an improved refrigerant regulating device. 1 V Fig. 3 is an enlarged part-sectional top "ating system to whichthe invention is disclosed as applied, comprises a refrigerant or ammonia supply main 3, a discharge or return main 2, and one or more cooling devices or coils 7 ordinarily connected in parallel to said mains 3, 2 and each having a regulating device or feed valve 5. The ammonia r feedpipe 4 connects the supply main 3 with a valve controlled orifice 19 in the end head 15 of the regulating device 5, The I feed pipe 6 connects the regulating device 5 with the cooling device or coil 7. The discharge end 8 of the cooling coil 7 communicates with a' liquid separator 9 of any suitable construction, which communicates with the lower rear portion of the outer casing 13, of the regulating device 5, through a pipe 10.

The upper forward portion of thecasing 13 comprises an outer casing 13 and a front head 15 forming a closure for the forward end, of the casing 13 and having a second ary casing 14 formed integral therewith.

The casing 14 forms a liquid basin 18 extending longitudinally within the casing 13 'and communicating upwardly with the interior of the outer casing 13. The secondthe .end of a bifurcated crank arm 23 secured to a short pivot cross-shaft 22. The cross-shaft 22 penetrates the wall of the chamber 20 and extends into the basin 18:-

A float 16 which rides upon the liquid in the basin 18 or in the absence of liquid rests upon the basin bottom, has its stem secured to an end of the crow-shaft22. The'casilig 14 is also provided at its rear end with a drip-catch 24 located directly below the liquid return orifice 25 of the casing 13.-

Duringv the normal operation of the .system, and assuming the apparatus to be in such a condition that there is no liquid in the basin 18, the valve 17 is wide open and liquid ammonia is supplied from the main 3,

through the pipe 4 andorifice 19, past the valve 17, through the chamber'20 and pipe 6, to the coolingdevice or coil 7. The-inflow of liquid ammonia continues until the inner upper surface of the coil 7 is covered with a liquid film and there is a substantial accumulation of liquid at the lower portion of the coil 7, the remainder of this coil being filled with gas. 'With the apparatus in this condition some of the liquid and gas is withdrawn from the coil 7 through the discharge-end 8 .thereof and is delivered into the separator 9, by virtue of. the reduced pressure in the return pipe 2. In the separator 9, the liquid ammonia is separated from the gas, the former passing'through the drain pipe 11 and orifice 25 into the basin 18, and the latter flowing through the pipe 10, casing 13 and pipe 12 into the return main 2. As the level of the liquid ammonia in the basin- 18 rises, the float 16- gradually and acts through the cross-shaft 22, crank arm 23 and valve .flanges 27, to move the needle valve 17 towardv its seat, thereby diminishing the supply of refrigerant admitted to the coil 7. When the supply of refrigerant has been thus regulated, cooling is effected by evaporation of liquid ammonia in the cooling coil '7. As this evaporation continues, the gases escaping from 'thecoil 7 through the separator 9, pipe 10, casing 13 andpipe 12, gradually become drier and warmer until their humidity and temperature reaches such a point,-that the gases in passing along the.

walls of the basin 18 and over the liquid ammonia therein, will absorb and evaporate some of this liquid, thus causing the liquid level to drop. As the liquid level in the basin 18 drops, the float 16 gradually moves downwardly and causes the needle valve 17 to open Wider, thereby increasing the supply of liquid ammonia admittedto the coil 7. As soon as the supply has been sufficiently replenished, the exhaust gases will no longer absorb liquid from' the basin 18, thereby stopping theevaporation of liquid ammonia from the basin 18, preventing further opening. movement of the needle valve 17, and

in this manner effectively controlling the quantity of liquid ammonia admitted to the cooling coil 7.

It will thus matic control iseifected, which'is responsive to variations in the moisture content of the refrigeratingmedium. The valve 17 will automatically assume a position during normal operation, wherein the inner surface of "the cooling coil remains coated with a liquid .film,- =the supply and discharge of refrigerant to.and" f rom the coil 7, being balanced and a predetermined cooling condition being thus maintained in the coil. If'the conditions in or adjacent the 'coil 7 vary, the posibe noted that a. sensitive auto-.

tion of the valve will, be automatically adjusted to accommodate such variations in cooling conditions. It will be noted however, that the sition of the feed valve17 may also be a ected byvariatiofisin conditions in the supply and discharge mains 3, 2. This is especially truein systems of either the single or multiple unit type, wherein the pressure in the supply and discharge mains 3, 2 is subject to variation due to changes in manner of operation of the compressor. It is also true in multiple unit systems wherein the conditions in the supply and discharge mains 3, 2 are subject to variations due to independent manipulation of thevarious units. Each valve 17 will however,

under any of these and other conditions, ef-- fect perfect regulation of the supply to the unit controlled thereby, irrespective of the operating conditions in other portions of .the

system. v

Whilevarious. details of 'theapparatus have been shown more or less diagrammatically in order to simplify the disclosure, it isnot intended to limit the scope of the claims by such disclosure. The separator 9 may be of any of the well known forms, and suitable cut-out and manual control valves should be provided wherever necessany or desirable. All parts of the apparatus are readily accessible for inspection and repairs, and are preferably-of simplest construction in order to insure eflicient 'opera tion.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact desupply, a cooling device communicable with.

said source, and means for effecting delivery of refrigerant from sald source to said devlce in accordance w1th varlations 1n the moisture content of the refrigerant leaving said device.

3. In combination, a source of refrigerant supply, a cooling device communicablewith said source, a valve for controlling the flow 'of refrigerant from said source to "said device, and means for adjusting said valve in accordance with variations in themoisture content of the refrigerant in said device.

4. In combination, a refrigerant supply source, a cooling device,"a valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said source to said device, and means for adjust ing said valve in accordance with variations in the moisture content of the refrigerant leaving said cooling device.-

.- 5. In combination, a refrigerant supply,

source, a cooling device, a valve for controlhug the flow of refrigerant from said source to said devlce, means affording a bath of liquid refrigerant isolated from said valve,

means for varylng the position of said valve in accordance with variations in level of the liquid in said bath, and means of communication between said bath and said cooling device. j

6. In combination, a cooling device, valve means for controlling the admission of refrigerant to said device, a refrigerant c011- ,taining basin isolated from said valve means, means foradjusting said valve means in accordance with variations in the quantity of refrigerant in said basin, and means for conducting refrigerant in proximity to said basin to vary the quantity of refrigerant admitted, to said cooling device in with variations the moisture content of refrigerant leaving said device.

7. In combination, a cooling device, a valve for controlling'the admission of refrigerant to said device, a'liquid containing basin isolated from said valve, means for adjusting said valve in accordance with variations in level of the liquid in said basin, and means for conducting gaseous refrigerant in proxin said basin.

accordance for adjusting said valve in accordance withvariations in level of the liquid refrigerant in said basin, andmeans for conducting the refrigerant leaving said device in proximity to the liquid in said basin.

9. In combination, a cooling device, a valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant to said device, a liquld refrigerant containing basin isolated from saidvalve, a float for adjust ing said valve in accordance with variations in level of the liquid refrigerant in said basin, and means for conducting the refrigerant leaving said device. in proximity to the liquid in said basin.

10. In combination, a cooling device, a I

valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant to said device, a liquid refrigerant containing basin isolated from said valve, a float for adjusting said valve in accordance with variations in level of the liquid refrigerant in said basin, means for separating the liquid and gaseous refrigerant leaving said device, and means for conducting said gaseous. refrigerant in proximityto the liquid 11. In combination, a cooling device, a' valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant to said device, a liquid refrigerant containing basin isolated from said valve, a float for adjusting said valve in accordance with variations in level of'the liquid refrigerant in said basin, means for separating the liquid and gaseous refrigerant leaving said device, means i for conducting said, liquid refrigerant into said basin, and means for conducting said gaseous refrigerant in contact with the walls of and the liquid in said basin. v,

12. In combination, 'a cooling device, a

valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant to said device, a liquid refrigerant containing basin, a float for adjusting said valve in accordance with variations in level of the liquid refrigerant in said basin, means. forming a chamber surrounding said basin, means for separating the liquid and gaseous constitu'ents of the refrigerant leaving said device, means for conducting said liquid constituent into said basin, and means for con ducting said gaseous constituent through said chamber.

13. In combination, a cooling coil, a valve for regulatingthe flow of refrigerant to said coil, a liquid refrigerant basin, a float for adjusting said valve variations in level of the liquid refrigerant in said basin, means forming a chamber surrounding said basin, a separator for the in accordance with liquid and gaseous constituentsof the re frigerant leaving said coil, means for conducting sald. gaseous constituents into said chamber, and means for exhausting said gaseous constituents from said chainber.-

delivery of refrigerant from said source to said 0011 in accordance with variations in the 10 moisture content of the refrigerant delivered from the 'end of said coil. In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is afiixed hereto.

' WALTER F. KRIEGER. 

